Numerous areas were identified for improvement following the
Kansas Learning Network visit during the fall of 2010. Areas of particular
focus were those of curriculum and instruction. What has the district staff
been doing to make those improvements?
1)
All school buildings developed a team to plan
for implementation of MTSS (Multi-tiered system of support). All Kingman
schools identified reading as the area which needed focus and Norwich schools
determined their focus would be on math. Using data obtained from various
tests, students would be identified for further assistance to correct
deficiencies. With new instructional tools available and data from testing,
students deficiencies can be identified and significant improvements can be
made. Though each building is at various levels of MTSS implementation,
significant student improvement is already occurring.
2)
Administrators often stopped in various
classrooms while walking around their buildings, but this school year, they do
so with a specific purpose in most cases. District administrators worked with
educational consultants to develop and become trained on the 5 minute
observation. This gets administrators in the classrooms much more and in most
cases, they make observations which they share with teachers almost immediately
after completing the observation. This has led to numerous conversations and
reflection on instruction and learning and since all of the data is recorded,
areas of professional development are identified. For instance, a transition to
the common core standards requires higher order thinking skills be developed.
Data obtained from the observations led to professional learning during an
in-service day to assist teachers in developing that type of instruction.
3)
Several teachers and administrators attended a
week long KLN Curriculum Institute in Pittsburg, KS this past summer. With the
work those educators began, a district curriculum leadership team was formed to
redesign the math and English – Language Arts curriculum for the district that
addressed current standards, identified resources including technology, and set
the pace for what should be covered throughout the school year. Since Kansas,
along with almost every other state, adopted the common core standards, their
work is now continuing with making appropriate changes toward the common core
standards. The work these dedicated professionals of our district have
completed is phenomenal and they will lead the in-service for all instructional
staff in April.
The above describes a few of the improvements
currently being worked on in the district. I am extremely proud of the
dedication and work of everyone involved and I hope all patrons are as well.
